Best-selling cars 2026: the year's 10 most popular models so far
These are officially Britain’s biggest-selling new cars so far in 2026, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
We’re over halfway through 2026 and car brands continue to fiercely battle it out, setting their sights on the coveted title of Britain’s best-selling car. You can see just how hotly contested the fight is below.
Unsurprisingly, hugely popular cars and previous best-sellers such as the Ford Puma and Kia Sportage are still enjoying their time near the top of the chart. But a wave of ultra-competitive Chinese cars, including the MG HS and most notably the Jaecoo 7, are mounting serious challenges for the top spots by racking up big sales numbers over the first seven months of 2026.
So far in 2026, it’s clear that SUVs are the flavour of the moment, because this popular bodystyle holds seven of the top 10 spots on this list, although the continued success of the MINI Cooper, Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Golf show superminis and hatchbacks still have significant staying power and remain a top choice with new-car buyers.
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How did the UK new car market perform in July 2026?
In July 2026, a total of 156,571 new cars hit UK roads, with the market growing by a healthy 11.7 per cent compared with July 2025. This marked the eight consecutive month of growth and was the strongest July performance since 2019.
It was also a notable month for fully electric cars, which saw Battery Electric Vehicles account for 25.7 per cent of the market, representing growth of 44.5 per cent compared with July 2025.
Combined with hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars, electrified vehicles accounted for more than half of the new car market in July at 55.6 per cent, rising from 47 per cent this time last year.
Petrol remains the single most popular fuel choice, taking up a share of 40.1 per cent, while diesel cars accounted for a 4.2 per cent market share for the month.
Best-selling cars in July
The best-selling car of the year so far, the Ford Puma, was also the best-selling car in July with a total of 3,531 models registered.
The Nissan Qashqai finished in second place with 3,224 registrations, while the Kia Sportage rounded out the podium in third place with 3,205 registrations.
To demonstrate how tight the race is for positions in the list of the UK’s best-selling cars, the Jaecoo 7 and MG HS finished in fourth and fifth position in July and were only separated by six registrations.
Top 10 best-selling cars 2026
Without further ado, here are the UK’s official best-selling cars of 2026 according to data from the SMMT.
1. Ford Puma - 33,173
- Prices from: £26,245
The Ford Puma has been the best-selling car in the UK for the past three years, but if the Puma wants to take the crown again in 2026, it’s going to have to work very hard for it.
Thankfully, the Puma has plenty of strengths. Not only is this small SUV one of the best-handling cars in its class, it’s great value for money and well equipped. What’s more, the electric Puma Gen-E qualifies for the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant, making it the cheapest variant in the range, too.
2. Kia Sportage - 29,033
- Prices from: £31,395
Having just missed out on the overall best-seller crown in both 2024 and 2025, the Kia Sportage remains an incredibly popular family car. So far in 2026 it remains well within striking distance of the Ford Puma in first position.
The fifth-generation Sportage has been around since 2021, although an update in 2024 has helped keep this mid-size SUV fresh and up-to-date with rivals. Its eye-catching looks, comfortable ride and attractive seven-year/100,000-mile warranty are clearly a hit with the car buyers.
3. Jaecoo 7 - 26,549
- Prices from: £29,210
Jaecoo might be a relatively new entry to the UK market, but this Chinese brand is clearly hitting all the right notes with car buyers, because its 7 SUV is now a very common sight on UK roads.
Why is the Jaecoo 7 so popular? It’s because this stylish SUV squares up to premium competitors such as the BMW X1 and MINI Countryman, comes loaded with lots of kit as standard and has plenty of space. What’s even more attractive is the starting price of around £29,000 and incredibly tempting finance offers.
With over 26,000 cars registered so far this year, we suspect you’re going to see quite a few 7s on UK roads in the future. But could this be the car that takes the 2026 top spot from the Ford Puma? Only time will tell.
4. Nissan Qashqai - 26,326
- Prices from: £30,635
- Commended at the 2026 Auto Express New Car Awards
Think of mid-size SUVs and the chances are the Nissan Qashqai will be among the first cars to spring to mind. Besides, it’s been a pretty common sight on UK roads since the first-generation car hit UK roads around two decades ago.
The latest Qashqai is arguably the best yet. While it does have some pretty bold styling, it retains familiarity where it matters with the usual solid build and practical cabin. Opt for the clever e-Power hybrid engine and you’ll be driving around in one of the best SUVs money can buy.
5. Vauxhall Corsa - 20,796
- Prices from: £19,090
It’s safe to say that Britain loves an SUV, but the plucky Vauxhall Corsa is leading the way for supermini sales.
The Corsa is one of the most recognisable names on UK roads, and with such a wide variety of choice when it comes to trim, kit and powertrains, it’s easy to see why. Thanks to a starting price from around £19,000, it’s great value too.
6. Volkswagen Golf - 19,965
- Prices from: £28,910
- Golf GTI named Auto Express Hot Hatch of the Year 2026
While SUVs are the flavour of the moment, the humble hatchback is still a sought-after bodystyle and the Volkswagen Golf is proof of that.
The eighth-generation car had a few niggles, which weren’t too popular with buyers, but a recent facelift aimed to right these wrongs. Gone are the annoying haptic control panels and the fiddly tech has mostly been ironed out.
Whatever you want in a car, chances are there’s a Golf to suit your needs. From a simple family runaround to a fire-breathing hot hatchback, this long-standing model remains a firm favourite.
7. MG HS - 19,424
- Prices from: £26,495
- Auto Express Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year 2026
MG as a brand is going from strength to strength in the UK, and the new MG HS is proof that good-value, economical, well equipped and spacious cars are a winning formula with UK buyers.
Available with hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure-petrol powertrains, the HS has a starting price of well under £27,000. Combine this with a very practical cabin and a generously sized boot, it’s a car which really stands out in a crowded market.
What further sweetens the deal is the fact the HS was crowned our 2026 Affordable Hybrid Car of the Year, not to mention the attraction of MG’s long seven-year/80,000-mile warranty as standard, too.
8. MINI Cooper - 18,645
- Prices from: £24,735
It’s undeniable that since BMW relaunched the modern-day MINI Cooper in the early 2000s, it has been a great sales success. All you have to do is look around a packed car park and chances are you’ll spot a new MINI…or three.
The current fourth-generation MINI Cooper is arguably the best iteration yet, offering a great combination of premium quality and desirability at a competitive starting price of well under £25,000. There’s a choice of punchy electric or petrol power, but whichever version you opt for, you’ll have one of the best-handling cars at your fingertips.
Practicality isn't the Cooper’s strongest point, but the 210-litre boot should easily swallow the weekly shop or a few overnight bags. You can also get the Cooper in a five-door configuration, which boosts versatility further.
9. Volvo XC40 - 18,118
- Prices from: £32,860
If you’re after a small SUV that’s big on style, then look no further than the Volvo XC40.
It might be one of the smallest cars Volvo sells but there’s more space than you might expect given the car’s 4.4-metre length. Getting comfy up front is straightforward, even for tall passengers, while in the rear there should be enough room for three adults side-by-side.
The Isofix child seat anchor points are easy to access, and the spacious 443-litre boot helps make it an ideal car for young families.
Throw in a stellar reputation for safety, a range of punchy (if not class-leadingly frugal) engines, and competitive pricing from under £33,000, and it’s not hard to see why this Volvo has become a hit with the UK car buying public.
10. Volkswagen Tiguan - 16,898
- Prices from: £38,920
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a solid and no-nonsense family SUV, so it’s not really a surprise that it's a hit with the car-buying public.
The Tiguan’s strengths include good levels of practicality, plus it feels upmarket compared with many of its rivals and has reasonable running costs.
What we especially like about the Tiguan is its wide selection of powertrains. From its fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid, which can go up to 77 miles on a single charge, to its punchy diesel engine that is great for towing, and the sporty 2.0-litre 260bhp petrol unit, there’s an engine to suit most buyers.
Being a mid-size SUV, the Tiguan needs to have a few aces up its sleeve to compete against some fierce competition. When it comes to practicality, it’s one of the most spacious cars in its class for both passengers and their luggage. With good all-round visibility, a flat boot floor and load lip, and a spacious 652-litre boot, the Tiguan can take family life in its stride.
Sales vs registrations: inside the numbers
There’s an important distinction to be made where the UK’s monthly and annual ‘car sales’ figures are concerned. Namely, that they don’t actually count the number of cars sold in the sense that many people might expect. The numbers provided by the SMMT are for car ‘registrations’ rather than being sales figures.
When customers buy a new car, it is registered before it can be driven on the road, but cars are also registered by manufacturers and dealers before they have a customer to go to.
This practice of processing pre-registered cars is done for various reasons, but often the goal is to move stock through the supply chain, avoiding bottlenecks or to hit targets. It means that a significant proportion of the cars in the figures could be pre-registered, and estimates of how many range between 10 and 20 per cent.
2026 new car registrations: year to date
The table below shows the total number of registrations so far in 2026, broken down by fuel type and overall market share.
| Fuel type | Total registrations | Market share |
| Battery Electric Vehicles | 327,683 | 25.31% |
| Hybrid cars | 182,387 | 14.09% |
| Plug-in hybrid cars | 171,491 | 13.25% |
| Petrol cars | 553,794 | 42.78% |
| Diesel cars | 59,144 | 4.57% |
| Total | 1,294,499 |
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